My Dirty Secret: Cleaning Motivation

It’s easy to get overwhelmed with the day-to-day of work, travel, play, sleep and mundane tasks. It’s that occasional moment when I look around and see all the things I’ve yet to do that makes me roll my eyes and want to climb back under the blankets and hide.

When I can find a corner to sit alone for about an hour, I’ll search youtube for an episode of hoarders. I think the entire world recognizes this show by now (which in and of itself is kind of weird …the things that garner attention!) and it is absolutely horrifying.

Watching this show makes me want to vomit in my gym shoes. Seriously. I don’t understand HOW people can allow themselves and their homes to get in such horrendous shape! This really is people choosing things, trash – over those they love. However, I am absolutely addicted to watching it. It’s like a train wreck: You know you shouldn’t look, and instead should assist, but…it’s just that out of whack that you can’t help but stare in earth shattering fear and amazement.

Even better (or worse for my youtube hoarders addiction), every time an episode completes (sometimes halfway through), I start cleaning. I mean CLEANINGmy home. Toothbrush in hand kind of cleaning and ready to toss out just everything.

So this is my dirty confession. Hoarders is my biggest motivation for spring cleaning. If you’re anything like me, you know exactly what I’m talking about. Check it out if you have the stomach for it and watch your floors sparkle.

I have people close to me that are actually like this and it makes me do the same thing every time I go to their homes. I come back and clean the hell out of my house.

My dirty secret though… I have an anal retentive twitch about books on a book shelf being in descending size order. When I put them on the book shelf they have to look like a reception bar or it frustrates me. It’s only really books that I get this with though. I have zero other OCD symptoms, I swear. Please don’t call me in 🙂

Nice to be in good company 🙂 About that bookshelf habit…thanks a lot. I’ve been sitting here staring at my bookshelves (kept in uniform height) for the last 10 minutes wondering if I should give your way a try.